Sustainable Development Goals

The Spirit Level. Why Equality is Better for Everyone

Disaster Management

The word ‘populism,’ often used as an accusation, has never been as present in Western politics as it has in recent years From Donald Trump to Viktor Orban, from Marine Le Pen to the Leave campaig

What is Populism

This article draws on findings of an international study of social workers’ ethical challenges during COVID-19, based on 607 responses to a qualitative survey. Ethical challenges included the following: maintaining trust, privacy, dignity and service user autonomy in remote relationships; allocating limited resources; balancing rights and needs of different parties; deciding whether to break or bend policies in the interests of service users; and handling emotions and ensuring care of self and colleagues. The article considers regional contrasts, the ‘ethical logistics’ of complex decision-making, the impact of societal inequities, and lessons for social workers and professional practice around the globe.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0020872820949614

Practising ethically during COVID-19: Social work challenges and responses

The Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development (The Agenda) is designed by IFSW, IASSW and ICSW to strengthen the profile of social work and to enable social workers to make a stronger contribution to policy development. The Agenda themes and commitments are presented and links with the core global statements are made explicit. The practical, conceptual and ethical challenges inherent in crafting global statements are discussed, including the need to respect regional diversity. The article concludes with a challenge to social workers to help shape the Agenda process and the future strategies of the global bodies.

http://www.icsw.org/images/docs/GlobalAgenda/TheGlobalAgendaforSocialWorkandSocialDevelopmentISWApr12.pdf

The Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development: A place to link together and be effective in a globalized world

The Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development ( The Agenda ) is being developed by three global, professional organizations – International Association of Schools of Social Work, International Council on Social Welfare, and International Federation of Social Workers. Launched in 2010 to strengthen the international profile of social work and social development, it enables social workers to make a stronger contribution to policy development. The Agenda identifies four fields for action by global institutions, local communities, and the three organizations: promoting social and economic equalities, promoting dignity and worth of peoples, working toward environmental sustainability, and strengthening human relationships. This article links The Agenda process with parallel developments within the worldwide social work professional community.

Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development

Ubuntu is the current theme for the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development and represents the highest level of global messaging within the social work profession for the years 2020–20...

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/00208728211022787

Ubuntu and its potential impact on the international social work profession

This report summarises the findings of an international study of the ethical challenges faced by social workers during the Covid-19 pandemic, undertaken during 6th-18th May 2020. 607 responses from 54 countries were received via an online survey, additional interviews and local surveys. Six key themes relating to social workers’ ethical challenges and
responses were identified:
1. Creating and maintaining trusting, honest and empathic relationships via phone or internet with due regard to privacy and confidentiality, or in person with protective equipment.
2. Prioritising service user needs and demands, which are greater and different due to the pandemic, when resources are stretched or unavailable and full assessments often impossible.
3. Balancing service user rights, needs and risks against personal risk to social workers and others, in order to provide services as well as possible.
4. Deciding whether to follow national and organisational policies, procedures or guidance (existing or new) or to use professional discretion in circumstances where the policies seem inappropriate, confused or lacking.
5. Acknowledging and handling emotions, fatigue and the need for selfcare, when working in unsafe and stressful circumstances.
6. Using the lessons learned from working during the pandemic to rethink social work in the future.

Rory Truell

Papers

Practising ethically during COVID-19: Social work challenges and responses

The Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development: A place to link together and be effective in a globalized world

Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development

Ubuntu and its potential impact on the international social work profession

Ethical challenges for social workers during Covid-19: A global perspective